I’ve been meaning to watch this drama long time ago but obviously I forget about it (I have no idea why) then I found its thread in MDL and decided to give it a chance.
Note: I agree with most points mentioned in the two reviews below but I had to state my opinion.
2)Storyline/Plot:
*Generally speaking this is a smartly written storyline that revolves around the world of crime while having romance as the center of many plot changes.
Positive Points:
*Honestly speaking, twists are the most important part of the storyline since you can’t lose interest while watching; those unpredictable events are the reason that catches the audience attention (especially me).
*Main genres:
--->Crime/Thriller: This is not a detective drama hence don’t be scared by the intensive police meddling into the storyline; it had some crime elements into it but they weren’t that deep to be fully considered as a “Crime drama”.
Thriller was simply astonishing here; it had many great suspense moments which prohibit you from predicting anything. There were a lot of mind-blowing events that you can’t see it coming therefore I have to give writers credit for many “What? When did that happen?” Scenes.
---->Romance: Though it was a little annoying when it comes to changing the spoken language, this was a well written Japanese-Korean romantic story; there were magnificent cultural interactions within the romantic story which made it more and more fascinating.
Other than that, romance had many charming and dangerous turns thus it will never make lose interest while you’re following its events and development.
Negative Points:
*Even if there were some negative points, they didn’t ruin the story’s aspect; they’re acceptable overall.
Story: 9.5/10.
3)Acting/Cast:
*This is a Korean Japanese drama consequently there were actors from both sides which made it more interesting than any other Japanese drama cast.
*Takenouchi Yutaka was always a very respectable actor; he was brilliant as this drama’s lead male because the role matched him so well. As you watch his acting, you’d feel depth which makes you want to see more of him on screen.
I am not familiar with Choi Ji Woo but she made through; her acting was believable and full with feelings which made her completely fitting for this type of role.
The rest of actors were good but not too great; in general, they were up to standard.
*As for characters, Sho/Takumi wasn’t an unusual character (discovering the truth behind the death of his father) still it felt creative and very absorbing no matter what sort of events he went through; whether it was action, romance, suspense, the character conveyed many fascinating feelings.
Yuna was a typical character until unpredictable twists took over. On the whole, the character was appreciated mainly because it leaded an unusual path.
*Other characters were important for the story’s development; I couldn’t imagine this kind of story without their presence.
*Appreciated character: Kim Young Jae because he added a special taste to the storyline plus he was one of the most unpredictable characters out there: More mysterious, more fun!
*Relationships:
--->Romance: One of the most charming chemistries that I’ve seen so far; it’s one of those romantic stories that you want to see more of it on screen but no matter how much you see it, you feel that it’s not enough. The lead actors had a mesmerizing relationship indeed because every scene they have together was absolutely attractive.
--->Sisterhood: I appreciated the relationship between Yuna and her sister; it felt natural and special in many ways.
Cast: 8/10
Acting: 9.25/10.
4)The ending:
It may have fallen into Japanese detective style endings but I haven’t seen it coming no matter how much I think about it, I was thrilled to find out the out-coming of the story.
The ending: 8.5/10.
5)My impression:
*For me, this was a joy ride of pleasant events. I loved this drama simply because it was way too far from my predictable sense; it was really absorbing especially near the end.
*I’ve fallen in love with Yukata in this drama; aside from his astonishing look, I felt a great actor in here: I will definitely watch more of his dramas.
*I was bothered by the bilingual characters in here. Though, I stated that I liked the Korean Japanese interactions but I can’t say that I enjoyed changing the language because I watched this drama Raw which made me get a little lost when they spoke Korean, I can understand Japanese but Korean is just a no (My Korean lingual skills are far behind from my Japanese) but fortunately they translated some of them into Japanese.
*Is this drama memorable: Yes it is, simply because of its unpredictable twisty events that made me enjoy it to the extremes. Nonetheless, I don’t think this is the greatest drama out there since there are many others of the same genre that suppresses it.
My impression: 9/10.
6)Overall:
*If you like crime Japanese dramas with many twists then you will enjoy this.
*If you like great romantic chemistries then you would like this.
*Rondo is a great drama that’s full of enjoyable twists and great actors who knows how to deliver amazing feelings.
Overall: 9/10.
Note: If you were already spoiled, don’t watch this because it makes you lose the taste of its suspense. Another point, I hope you can find subs for this drama because I heard that there weren’t any; it’s a shame that this amazing drama doesn’t get the appropriate attention.
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Discovered by mere chance while following Takenouchi Yutaka's work, it soon proved to be one of my best drama findings. It wasn't even listed on MDL, nor have I ever read a review or a comment about it.
Rondo is a romance thriller. The two aspects are smoothly interwoven and so well balanced that I don't know if I should say it's a romance on the background of a major criminal plot, or a thriller with an undertone of romance.
But let me go in order.
Plot: 10.
Should you decide to watch this drama, don't be deterred by the complex police investigation at the beginning. Slowly but steadily, the jigsaw pieces find their right place and everything becomes clearer and more and more gripping. Never predictable though; on the contrary, there's a twist at every turn.
The love story is simply beautiful. I love the Japanese-Korean interaction between the main leads, it adds a lot of colour to the story and create some very sweet moments. The two characters are a beauty to watch together: both intense and believable, both incredibly good-looking.
Acting: 10.
Terrific performances by all. Takenouchi proved once again to be an outstanding, very expressive actor and, I can just as well admit it, sexy as hell. The only asian man beside Takeshi Kaneshiro who looks good with a moustache. Choi Ji Woo, whom I had never seen acting before, is wonderful. I loved their first encounter and, since I'm very partial to those, I can say it marked the moment I decided I liked this drama. On screen they share the kind of chemistry which is created by tension and suspicion.
I was impressed by Hayami Mokomichi's and Shin Hyun Joon's performances too.
Cinematography: 10.
This is a dark drama. So are the colours, the screenshots, the city views. Black and gray are the predominant hues. The overall photography and direction are spot-on and there were times when I thought I was watching a long movie, instead of a drama.
Music: 11.
Wait... the option is not available. Pity, since the music is a blast, at least for my taste. There's an awesome instrumental piece in between ethnic and trip-hop which is so well used I was always longing for it to play. The music plays a major role in connection with the shooting. Very well chosen.
Re-watch value is obviously a little lower, as it always is with suspense dramas. Once the twists are known, a little of the thrill is gone. Which doesn't mean I won't rewatch this drama when a reasonable time will have passed.
There is only one sad note about this show: the quality of the streaming videos available. Subs: an atrocity. Although I marathoned through the drama, I must say it was an odyssey. The first episode, which is 90 minutes long, is impossible to find whole and in the right order. It almost made me give up the drama entirely, until I decided to find an alternative way... I'm glad I did. The rest of the 10 episodes has to be scraped together here and there. But if you have the patience, you won't regret it.
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Acting: What can I say, I was pleasantly surprised by all. I've seen them all in different works but in this collaboration between Jpn/Kor; they reined supreme. Takenouchi Yutaka as Shou/Takumi was phenomenal. As the gangster Shou, he played the role really well. I loved that! And boy is he a sexy man! Choi Ji Woo as Yuna was a treat! Except for movies, I'd never completed one of her dramas but as Yuna (the ever changing Yuna), she was on point. I would be remiss in leaving out Sato Ryuta as Hide. Afro-ed down and funny as hell!
Action: Okay, this is a dark. dark drama. You are talking about gangsters, crooked cops; no drama of this ilk would be complete without some serious action! No, no club and knives but serious gun action so the squeamish, beware.
Filming: A Lot of the shots are dark and I guess the director was trying to project darkness because of the subject matter
Romance: It was nicely done and I must say, very believable. You will definitely feel and experience as these two, Shou and Yuna fall for each other. It was also nice to see that they expressed that affection too with hugs, kisses, etc.
Twists: Talk about a roller coaster ride!! There are so many twists and turns in this drama, I guarantee, your head will spin like you are possessed. HAH! I'm kidding but you will be shocked, dismayed and pleasantly amazed at the number of twists in this story; well done.
Music: There really wasn't a lot of variations to the music; however, what was featured was very nice. I loved the songs that were featured and there were times that the instrumental music reminded me of one of my favorite movies called Ghost Dog; same beat. You'll be bopping your head from time to time listening to it.
Overall, the writer definitely closed this drama with a bang and I was very, very happy. But as usual with JDramas, you must watch until the very end. I'm always sad when I do not understand why a drama has a certain title. Now I know what Rondo means.
LOVED IT!! Completed in 2 days!
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Choi Ji Woo has been the queen of Korean romance for over a decade. But this is not her best performance. Here she totally lacked emotion and her love did not feel real.
Rondo was billed as a romantic thriller. Two quick pecks do not translate into a "willing to die for you" thriller. The passion was missing and this suspense would have been better without the "romance."
Takenouchi Yataka is definitely a heartthrob and a good actor. The cop part was better than the lover part.
If you like suspense, you may like this. But don't expect a titillating romance. Better yet, watch Takenouchi Yataka in Ice World which is a much better suspense/thriller/romance. And there is more than a few chicken pecks with that drama.
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I am hesitant to even say more than this because you have to watch this drama unspoiled. If anyone has spoiled you for this drama send them to my house and I will Chinese water torture them for you.
The set design and lighting becomes almost part of the plot...a character of its own. There are little dramatic, scenic touches; camera angles and lovely direction that just MAKE this drama. It's cool. It's kinda bad ass. The chemistry of the leads and their interactions were addicting. I couldn't wait for the next scene they shared.
The music is okay. There are two pieces that stand out for me that I liked. The main "love" theme being my favorite.
If you are in the mood for a very well written, twisty/turny and suspenseful drama that goes at a pretty fast pace, Rondo is a great one to watch. The love story tucked inside is pretty awesome too. I embraced the characters...or I should say, they made me embrace them and it has become one of my favorites. This drama goes fairly fast at 11 episodes which is a good thing!
There were a few little things I would nitpick but overall, this gets a 9 from me. Well deserved.
I recommend this highly if you can find some decent subs out there!
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Story:
Crime fiction with the spices of romance. two people who cannot speak or understand other person language learn to communicate through hearts. How love melts the heart of a man who has nothing in life but revenge and how a girl hating Japanese fall for a typical Japanese guy. Even though the story revolves around the crime world but romance, comedy and emotional scenes made this drama more of a thriller. So don't worry if you don't like crime fiction then watch it as a revenge drama filled with romantic and heartwarming scenes. Many twists and mysteries keep the audience indulge with the plot.
Acting:
Even though Choi Ji woo is a big name of the Korean industry but she never impressed me as an actress (that's my opinion) even in this drama I can give her 6/10 but Yutama amazed me. A sitcom actor proved that he is so versatile from his anger to smile to tears he was so natural. You can feel his emotions through his eyes. He is not a perfect human and that's the most beautiful part of his role. he made mistakes took wrong decisions but the way he accepted every failure is what makes his role a genuine humanly one. every actor fits in the role like a diamond in a ring. unlike many other Japanese dramas, All characters get a proper piece of appearance and we never felt where that character is gone,
Music:
I must say after heartstrings this drama excels in music. Music has some Indian and Spanish touch with soft Arabian beats. trust me you gonna love it.
Overall for me it a 9/10 as I took 1 mark for the slow-paced moments that sometimes feel awkward.
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Not really...
I can't say this was a successful collaboration. A lot of mismatching going on here. This is the type of story that would fit perfectly in a 120-150 minutes J-movie instead of 11 scattered episodes. Some soundtracks were really good while the others were generic free licensed tracks. I don't why the inconsistency.Was this review helpful to you?
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